A square scarf is a piece of art you can wear. It is also one of the few accessories that can be a necktie, a headband, a belt, a bag decoration and a shawl, depending on how you fold it. The catch is that size decides what is possible. A small square and a large square are almost different products.
Kiyo Arts scarves come in two sizes, 25 × 25 inches and 50 × 50 inches, and in two lightweight polyester fabrics, voile and chiffon. Here is what each size is for, and nine ways to wear them.
Which size does what
- 25 × 25 inches (about 64 cm) is a neckerchief or bandana size. It is for small, neat knots: at the neck, in the hair, on a wrist or a bag. It is too small to wrap around your shoulders.
- 50 × 50 inches (about 127 cm) is a shawl size. It covers the shoulders, wraps the neck in generous loops, and can be worn as a head covering or a sarong-style wrap.
If you want a scarf as a finishing touch, choose the small one. If you want it as a layer, choose the large one.
The basic fold
Most styles start from one of two folds.
- The triangle: fold the square corner to corner.
- The band: fold into a triangle, then keep folding from the point toward the long edge, in strips about two inches wide, until you have a long flat band. This is sometimes called a bias fold.
With the small scarf (25 inch)
1. The neckerchief
Fold into a band, wrap it once around your neck and tie a small knot at the front or slightly to one side. It sits neatly inside an open collar or over a plain crew-neck tee. This is the simplest way to add colour to a monochrome outfit.
2. The cowboy
Fold into a triangle. Put the point at the front, on your chest, take the two ends behind your neck, cross them, and bring them back to tie under the triangle. It shows more of the print than a band does.
3. The headband
Fold into a band, place the middle at the nape of your neck under your hair, and tie the ends on top of your head or just off-centre. Tuck the ends under, or leave them up for a retro look.
4. The ponytail or bun tie
Fold into a narrow band and tie it around a ponytail or bun, over a hair elastic so it holds. Let the ends hang. It takes ten seconds.
5. The wrist wrap
Fold into a band, wrap it around your wrist two or three times, and tie or tuck the ends. It works as a soft bracelet, and it is a good way to wear a print when a scarf at the neck feels like too much.
6. The bag accent
Tie it around the handle of a handbag or tote, or wrap the handle completely. It dresses up a plain bag and protects the handle. This is an easy way to use a scarf if you don't usually wear one. It pairs well with a charm or two: see bag charm stacking.
With the large scarf (50 inch)
7. The shoulder wrap
Fold into a triangle and drape it over your shoulders with the point at your back. Leave the ends loose at the front, knot them, or throw one over the opposite shoulder. Over a plain dress or a coat, it shows off the whole print.
8. The loose loop
Fold into a triangle, hold the two far corners, and put the point at your chest. Take the ends around the back of your neck and bring them forward again, letting them hang or tucking them under the front. It makes a soft, full drape at the neck that suits a coat or a jacket.
9. The head scarf
Fold into a triangle, place the long edge at your hairline, and tie the ends under your chin or at the nape of your neck. It is a classic look, and practical on a windy day or in an open-top car.
The large size can also be tied at the hip as a wrap over swimwear, or draped over the back of a chair as a splash of colour when you are not wearing it.
Voile or chiffon?
Both are light, airy polyester fabrics with a vivid print.
- Voile is smooth and slightly crisper. It holds a fold and a knot well, which suits bands, neckerchiefs and bag ties.
- Chiffon is sheerer and floatier. It drapes softly, which suits shoulder wraps and loose loops.
As a rough guide: voile for the small size and structured knots, chiffon for the large size and flowing styles. Either works for both.
What to wear it with
The scarves in our collection are dark, fluid, ink-like abstracts in deep colours: teal, emerald, plum, burgundy, and black with orange. They follow the same rule as any bold print. Let it be the one loud thing.
- With black, grey, cream or navy. A plain coat, a plain knit, a white shirt.
- Pick up one colour. A teal scarf with a navy coat. A plum scarf with a grey jumper. A burgundy scarf with camel.
- Avoid other patterns right next to it. A printed scarf on a printed shirt is hard to pull off.
Our five designs are Fluid Teal Ink, Emerald Ink, Moody Plum Ink, Dark Red Swirl and Fluid Black and Orange.
Tips for tying
- Smooth fabric slips. A double knot, or a small scarf ring, keeps it in place.
- For hair, tie over an elastic or use a couple of grips. A scarf alone will slide.
- Don't pull knots too tight. A slightly loose knot looks better and is easier to undo.
- Press out creases with a cool iron through a cloth, or hang the scarf in a steamy bathroom.
Care
Machine wash cold and dry flat. Keep it away from rough surfaces, velcro and sharp jewellery, which can snag lightweight fabric. Store it folded loosely or rolled, so it doesn't hold a hard crease.
As a gift
A scarf has no size to get wrong, which makes it one of the safest clothing gifts. Choose a colour the person already wears. If you are not sure which size to give, the small one is the more versatile accessory, and the large one feels more generous.
See all five designs in the scarves collection. Each is made to order, so allow 2 to 7 business days for production before it ships.